Part 3: Becoming a Yacht Chef — Courses, Certificates, Experience and Tips

Courses, Certificates, Experience and Tips.

I'm going to explain the slightly more serious side of yachting and what you'll need as the basics before even thinking about applying for a job.

Before you even think about applying for a job on a superyacht, there are a few things you need to have in place. This is the more serious side of entering the industry, but get these sorted and you'll be ahead of most people starting out.

The minimum requirements are:

• ENG1 Medical Certificate

• STCW Basic Safety Training

• Ship's Cook Certificate (SCC) - this is only cooking for 10 or more crew on a yacht.

ENG1 Medical Certificate

First things first — book your ENG1 medical and your STCW now. Don't delay, as spaces fill up fast. I'd recommend doing the medical first, which costs around $100 USD, just to make sure there are no pre-existing conditions that could prevent you from working on a yacht. No point paying for your STCW if there's a medical issue to address first.

You can find ENG1 medical providers here.

STCW Basic Safety Training

STCW stands for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. I won't go into too much detail as there's plenty of information out there, but I will say — it's actually great fun. You'll cover firefighting, sea survival and, more recently, piracy awareness as an add-on.

The course runs for five full days, costs around $1,000 USD and is valid for five years. It can be completed in most countries around the world. Some recommended providers below:

Europe : Bluewater Antibes and Nice, France

America : Bluewater Fort Lauderdale

Australia : AMSA Australia All States

South Africa : Maritime Safety South Africa Cape Town

Ship's Cook Certificate (SCC)

This is your next step and I highly recommend it to give yourself an edge over the competition. The Ship's Cook Certificate verifies that you understand food health and safety procedures in a galley environment. It proves you know the basics — and that matters to captains and chiefs.

The course runs for three days and costs around $1,000–$1,500 USD. Note that it is only mandatory if you are cooking for 10 or more crew members, but having it regardless puts you in a much stronger position.

If you're already a qualified chef, you may be able to fast-track the process:

• Australia: If you hold an AMSA-endorsed ENG1 and a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, you can fast-track your SCC through AMSA.

• UK: Contact the MCA with proof of your chef qualifications to obtain the SCC for a small fee.

• USA: Requirements vary — check with your local maritime authority.

Where to complete your Ship's Cook Certificate:

• Europe: Secrets de Cuisine, France

• UK: Tante Marie

• USA: Bluewater Yachting, Fort Lauderdale

• South Africa: Super Yachting South Africa

Anything beyond those three certificates is a bonus.

Some additional qualifications that can really set you apart include dessert and patisserie courses, Michelin-level restaurant stages, bakery courses, and yacht chef-focused schools. Two of my favourites are My MuyBueno and Galley Gang. Ashburton Chefs Academy is also one of the larger and well-known options for yacht chef training.

Beyond cooking qualifications, other skills that can make a real difference include a PADI Dive Master certification, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, spearfishing, tender licence, jet ski licence, advanced first aid, yoga teacher qualification, swimming instructor certification or sailing experience. Anything that adds value to the vessel puts you ahead of the crowd.

Your CV and Food Portfolio

Once your certificates are in order, you'll need your CV looking sharp. Differentiate yourself from the crowd. When I'm personally reviewing CVs for crew chef positions, I look for longevity, experience, the size of previous vessels and a solid set of references I can actually call.

A strong CV should include a short introduction letter about yourself, your current location, age, updated certificates, where you're from and why you'd be a great fit for the role. Pair this with a well-presented food portfolio and a menu plan for both guests and crew — these are almost always expected at the higher end of the industry.

You can find great CV templates on Canva to get you started.

Now you know what it takes, what it costs and what you're signing up for. Yachting isn't for everyone — but everyone I've ever spoken to within the industry has absolutely no regrets.

What are you waiting for?

Become A Yacht Chef Here

What are you waiting for? Head on over to my next post which explains, when, where and how to get a job.. HERE